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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced additional funding of almost €3.5 million for 12 projects supported by the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).
The projects include the rejuvenation of town centres and public realms, as well as the development of a number of enterprise and digital hubs to facilitate remote working.
The RRDF is a key part of Our Rural Future, the Government’s five year policy designed to reinvigorate Rural Ireland.
The Fund itself is designed to combat dereliction, increase the vibrancy of town centres and regenerate old buildings so that they have a new purpose.
The 12 projects were among 25 projects approved for funding under RRDF in April of this year.
Following a full cost review of the projects involved, the additional funding is being made available to ensure they are delivered to the highest possible standard in order to benefit the local communities in the areas concerned.
Today’s announcement brings the overall funding for the 25 landmark projects announced in April to over €84 million.
Announcing the funding today, Minister Humphreys said:
“The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is delivering projects that will have a real and lasting impact on Rural Ireland for decades to come.
“The 25 projects I announced in April are landmark projects that will breathe new life into towns and villages.
“The additional funding of €3.5 million that I am announcing today reflects the fact that it is a challenging time in construction and that further financial investment from Government is required to ensure these projects can be delivered in full.
“The cost review undertaken in relation to the projects was also important to ensure that no delays would be encountered in their delivery and that appropriate funding is in place to cover contingencies in the current volatile cost environment.
“I will be closely following the progress made on these projects and look forward to their full and timely completion.”
Minister Humphreys concluded:
“Earlier this month, the Government announced the new National Development Plan. The NDP allocated capital funding of €962 million to support rural and community development projects until 2025, an increase of 21%. This included over €480 million for rural regeneration and development schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
“These and other funding programmes will underpin the delivery of ‘Our Rural Future’, our ambitious rural development policy, providing the necessary investment to meet the unprecedented vision and ambition that we have for Rural Ireland.
“The funding and delivery of large scale projects is essential to revitalising our rural towns and villages and attracting people back to rural areas to live and work.
“The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund alone has to date invested over €255 million in 164 projects worth a total of €347million. I expect to be in a position to announce successful Category 2 applications under the Fund, to assist further project development work around the country, in the weeks ahead and to announce the fourth call for Category 1 applications before the end of the year.”
See below table detailing projects receiving upgraded funding
Rural Development Investment Programme
The Department of Rural and Community Development’s Rural Development Investment Programme includes a number of integrated funding interventions:
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established to deliver on the National Strategic Objective in the National Development Plan of Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities and achieve sustainable economic and social development in the rural areas. The Fund is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The Fund provides investment to support suitable projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories. Category 1 relates to projects with all necessary planning and consents in place and are ready to proceed, while Category 2 relates to projects which require further development to become ready for Category 1 status.
To date, the Fund has invested over €255 million in 164 projects worth a total of €347million.
It is expected that the Minister will announce the successful projects from the third call for Category 2 applications, which closed in July 2021, in the coming weeks. It is also expected that the Minister will launch the fourth call for Category 1 applications shortly.
Table: Third Call Category 1 Projects – Upgraded Funding
| Project Name | Lead Body | Location | County | Total Cost | RRDF Funding Announced | Increase in RRDF funding |
| Ballydesmond Village Public Realm and Placemaking Enhancement Plan | Cork County Council | Ballydesmond | Cork | €903,000 | €774,000 | €38,700 |
| Ailt an Chorrain (Burtonport) Harbour Redevelopment Phase 2 Harbour Buildings | Donegal County Council | Burtonport | Donegal | €2,295,290 | €1,854,677 | €211,084 |
| Dromahair Regeneration Project | Leitrim County Council | Dromahair | Leitrim | €2,474,876 | €1,939,388 | €288,000 |
| Mohill Public Realm | Leitrim County Council | Mohill | Leitrim | €2,998,750 | €2,520,000 | €178,875 |
| Ballymahon ‘Pobal le Cheile’ | Longford County Council | Ballymahon | Longford | €7,405,332 | €5,991,916 | €672,883 |
| Enfield Community and Enterprise Hub | Meath County Council | Enfield | Meath | €969,620 | €671,377 | €55,838 |
| C Tek II Co-working Enterprise Hub Carrickmacross | Monaghan County Council | Carrickmacross | Monaghan | €3,878,829 | €3,173,588 | €317,358 |
| Project Name | Lead Body | Location | County | Revised Total Cost | RRDF Funding Announced | Increase in RRDF funding |
| Newbliss Enterprise and Digital Hub | Monaghan County Council | Newbliss | Monaghan | €1,885,317 | €1,396,132 | €300,653 |
| Energising Boyle Town Centre and King House | Roscommon County Council | Boyle | Roscommon | €2,416,000 | €1,872,900 | €301,500 |
| Thurles Market Quarter - Regeneration through Recreation, Education and Support for Local Producers | Tipperary County Council | Thurles | Tipperary | €3,825,700 | €2,893,861 | €549,269 |
| Revitalisation of Rural Villages: A Model for Cluster Housing and Low Carbon Planning | Tipperary County Council | Kilsheelan | Tipperary | €670,833 | €551,854 | €51,896 |
| Kinnegad Regeneration | Westmeath County Council | Kinnegad | Westmeath | €9,083,089 | €7,643,916 | €530,864 |
| €38,806,636 | €31,283,609 | €3,496,920 |